Water drainage from vehicle lamps



April 22, 1958 J. H. DIEDRING 2,831,964

' WATER DRAINAGE FROM VEHICLE LAMPS Filed March 9, 1954 INVENTOR 4/2572J14 flifd zzig United States Patent WATER DRAHIAGE FROM VEHICLE LAMPSJohn H. Diedring, Anderson, ImL, assignor to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application March 9, 1954,Serial No. 414,948

2 Claims. (Cl. 240-41) This invention relates to the drainage of waterfrom vehicle lamps and more particularly to the drainage of lampsadapted to be mounted in a plurality of positions.

One of the problems associated with the design of vehicle lamps is theprovision of adequate means for draining water from the lamp casing inorder to preclude rusting and possible shorting of the electricalcircuit. In order to overcome this problem, it has become acceptedpractice to provide at least one drain aperture in the lowermost portionof the lamp casing.

However, it is readily apparent that such an expedient is limited inutility to only those lamps which are to be mounted in but a singleposition, that which positions the lamp casing with the drain aperturein its lowermost portion. It is equally apparent that the provision of aplurality of circumferentially spaced apertures, while providingdrainage in a plurality of mounting positions, would at the same timeweaken the lamp casing and provide a plurality of openings for theentrance of dust and dirt, etc.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide simple andinexpensive means for enabling drainage of water from vehicle lampswhich are adapted to be mounted in a plurality of positions. It isanother object of my invention to provide a vehicle lamp adapted toprovide water drainage through a plurality of lamp mounting positionsand at the same time seal the lamp casing against the entrance ofcontaminants.

To attain these objects, I provide at least one aperture in the lampcasing and a strip of wicking material secured to the inner surface ofthe casing, over the aperture and extending on each side thereof:

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preterred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a sectional view taken on line l-l of the lamp shown inFigure 2.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a lamp showing the details of myinvention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view with parts broken away of a lamp showing amodification of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, thereis shown a turn signal lamp 1 of the type adapted for use on motorvehicles for signaling to both oncoming and following vehicles. The lamp1 comprises a cylindrical casing 3 having an inwardly dished andcentrally apertured shield plate 5 secured on its forward end and havingan annular plate v7 secured on its rear end thus forming a cylindricalbody assembly. An amber lens 9 and ared lens 11 are positioned on plates5 and 7, respectively, and are removably secured thereto by such meansas bolts 13. A resilient sealing gasket 15 is positioned between eachlens and plate in order to insure a dust and water proof connection. Alight source 17, the bulb 19 and socket 21, are mounted within thecasing 3 by means of a bracket 23.

The ends of bracket 23 aresecured to the casing in any suitable manner,i. e., riveting, the lower end of socket 21 being positioned on itsmiddle portion. A wire 25 is passed through an aperture in the casing 3and serves to connect the lamp 1 in the signal circuit. As is clearlyshown on Figures 1 and 2, the shield plate 5 is provided with anelongated aperture 27 of such dimensions as to permit the dished portionto be positioned about the light source 17 thus forming two separatecompartments having the same source of light. The lamp 1,

is adapted to be secured to the vehicle by means of mounting bolt 29secured to the lamp casing 3 by means of a bracket 31. As shown, thebolt 29 is hollow in order to accommodate the wire 25, though this is byno means essential to my invention.

Lamps of the type described are commonly used on commercial and militarytype vehicles and are subject to being mounted in a plurality ofpositions other than the vertical position thus making for a drainageproblem where a single lamp model is to be used. In accordance with myinvention, lamp drainage is made-possible regardless of the mountingposition. As is best shown in Figure 1, the lamp casing 3 is providedwith two apertures 33, one aperture about 60 each side of the verticalcenter line of the lamp. A piece of wicking material 35, i. e., a padformed of felt, cotton, wool, asbestos, etc., is secured to the innersurface of the casing 3 over the apertures 33 and extends on each sidethereof. This wick 35 acts to absorb any water entering the lamp 1, thewater being then conveyed by capillary action to the apertures 33 whereit is evaporated. The wicking shown on Figure 1 will drain the lamp inmounting positions up to about each side of the vertical center line. Itshould be noted that by means of my invention, the lamp 1 is likewisesealed against entry of any contaminants through the drain holes 33.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, advantage is made of the fact thatthe casing 3 is apertured at the bottom to admit wire 25. Where the wire25 is not sealed therein, as by a grommet or by the close sliding fitbetween the wire insulation and the edge of the casing defining theaperture, drainage may be accomplished through this aperture when thelamp 1 is mounted vertically. It is thus no longer necessary to extendthe wick between the drain apertures 33. Drainage in mounting positionsup to about 90 each side of the vertical center line may be accomplishedby securing a separate piece of wicking material 37 over each aperture33 and extending on each side thereof. Where a hollow mounting bolt isused, water may be drained therethrough to the underside of the vehiclemounting surface.

It is apparent from the above description that I have provided a simpleand inexpensive method for enabling the drainage of water from a lampcasing irrespective of the lamp mounting position. My invention has thefurther advantage that the lamp is sealed against the entry of dust anddirt through the drainage apertures. Though I have shown and describedmy invention as applied to a specific type of lamp having two drainapertures, it should be understood that my invention is applicable toany type lamp having one or more drain apertures.

While the foregoing embodiment of the invention as. herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle lamp, the combination comprising a cylindrical casing, ashield plate secured to the inner surface.

of said casing at its forward end, an annular plate secured to the innersurface of said casing at its rear end, a lens removably secured on theouter surface of each plate, a sealing gasket positioned between eachsaid lens and said plate to weatherse al said casing, a light sourcepositioned within said casing, said casing having an aperture thereinfor admission of an electrical conductor to said light source and a pairof spaced apart drain apertures positioned in said casing one on eachside of said aperture, a wicking pad extending between and covering saiddrain apertures for evaporating water from said casing, and a mountingbolt secured to said casing adjacent said clectrical conductor aperture.

2. In combination, a lamp casing, a lens secured on said casing, a lightsource positioned within said casing, said casing having an aperturetherein for passage of an electrical conductor to said light source, apair of spaced apart drain apertures positioned one on each side of thevertical centerline of said lamp, a wicking pad extending between andcovering said drain apertures for evaporating water from said casing,and a mounting bolt secured to said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,473,400 Dunn NOV. 6, 1923 1,569,907 Beard Jan. 19, 1926 1,584,369Graham May 11, 1926 2,465,762 Supplee Mar. 29 1949 2,491,124 Martin Dec.13, 1949 2,637,804 Hollins May 5, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 575,976 GreatBritain Mar. 13, 1946

